There is a Rabbenu Bachaya at the end of Parashas Ki Siso explaining the purpose of Torah Shebaal Peh with a parable. A king wrote a letter to his son commanding him with a process of behavior and the reward him for its performance. For fearing that the letter will fall in the wrong hands and requiring to fulfil the reward, some information he left out and transmitted orally. Originally Rebbi only wrote down what was necessary for the understanding as concise as possible. As the generations became weaker in their understanding, more elaboration was required. With this he explains the expression חסורא מחסרא והכי קתני the mishna left it out on purpose. The Ksav Sofer in Parashas Yisro from his father, the Chasam Sofer, has a different parable. A father had a gold mine and had multiple sons but he wanted that his youngest son should inherit it. In order not to create jealousy, he taught his youngest son the act of goldmining and divided it equally. As the others did not know what to do with it, it fell automatically to the youngest son. The Torah Shebeksav is a goldmine, the act of gold mining is the Torah Shebaal Peh and the youngest son are we the Bnei Yisroel. Hashem chose us by teaching us the Torah Shebaal Peh which is necessary to understand the Torah Shebeksav, the goldmine, letter interpreted orally.
Menu